Great War - Part 2: The Result:Effort Ratio

Posted By: Tom

Tagged:
WW1 - WarGames - Painting - Historical - 28mm -

As I've mentioned before, my decision start this project was significantly influenced by aesthetics. I was drawn by several of the ranges of 28mm World War One figures on the market at the moment and on a whim picked up a copy of "The Great War" from my local shop. If there's one aspect of this rule set that stands out immediately its the production quality. For one thing there are lots of colour photos of miniatures and scenery painted to the standard that mortals like myself dont realistically expect to achieve.

Frankly, even if I had the talent or coordination to paint that well, I still wouldn't have the patience. Fortunately, there are some products out there these days that claim to really help to achieve reasonably good looking miniatures, quickly. Since I'd been looking for an excuse to try some these out, I picked up two companies of infantry and some painting supplies from a conveniently timed gaming event in Stoke.

Here's a photographic walkthrough of the method I used, using a German Battalion HQ unit as an example:

1) The models, straight from the pack.

2) The mould lines are cleaned away and the models are mounted to standard 25mm round GW bases. The two officer figures are bluetacked to their bases as they will both be rebased to a single base later.

3) Sprayed with Army Painter System "Uniform Grey"

4) The flesh, wood and metalwork area are painted with GW Elf Flesh, Vermin Brown, and Boltgun Metal respectively.

5) The remaining areas are painted. The Boots helmet and webbing are Charadon Granite, other pouches and straps are done with Graveyard Earth, Kommando Khaki, Bleached Bone and Bestial Brown. The trim on the officers' uniforms is Blood Red.

6) The officers are remounted to single base. The bases are painted all over with wood glue, GF9 Medium Grit is sprinkled on, then the whole base is dipped in Fine Grit and left to dry.

7) Dunk! The models are dunked into Army Painter System QuickShade. I use the Medium Tone version. After letting the excess drip off and dabbing with a tissue where required, the models are left in a warm cupboard to dry.

8) The edges of the bases are painted with Graveyard Earth, then the models are sprayed with Army Painter System Matt Varnish to take off the shine.

9) More wood glue is then painted over the shaded grit, leaving bare patches where the grit shows through. This is then dipped/sprinkled with GF9 Summer Blend Flock. Once dry, more wood glue patches are dabbed on, and GF Meadow Blend pressed on in clumps.

The finished article in the table, with Bergman SMG in tow.

There really is zero talent involved in this method, and they wont win any painting contests, but the result achieved for the levle of effort put in is perfect.

This HQ unit completes my 1918 German Angriffbattalion 600 point list, so the next article will include some photos of the assembled army and some more details about force composition.